Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterium that causes the disease tuberculosis with a high mortality rate. The standard treatment of tuberculosis involves the use of multiple antibiotics, however, extensive antibiotic resistance development by Mycobacterium tuberculosis posts a great threat to patients of tuberculosis. New drugs with novel targets are in high demand to combat antibiotic resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Q112, a D-phenylalanine-benzoxazole, demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with unidentified targets and novel mechanism of action. Using Q112’s photoaffinity derivative Q203, whole cell labeling assay and affinity pulldown assay with mass spectrometry analysis were performed on alternative model Mycobacterium marinum. Whole cell labeling assay showed approximately 8 protein bands in SDS-PAGE gel, and protein mass spectrometry data analysis yielded 16 compelling protein candidates for the target of Q203.